The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a highly-maneuverable multi-role fighter aircraft. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Key Takeaways:
A Cessna 182 pilot inadvertently flew into restricted airspace protecting President Biden in Southern California, leading to an intercept by two U.S. Air Force F-16s.
The F-16s resorted to non-verbal tactics, including dropping flares and "headbutt" maneuvers, after the Cessna pilot failed to respond to repeated radio calls.
The FAA is investigating the incident, with potential sanctions for TFR violations ranging from warnings to pilot license suspension or revocation.
Pilots are legally responsible for checking Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) for restricted airspace before every flight.
The pilot of a Cessna 182 over Southern California had an up-close look at a pair of U.S. Air Force F-16s last week when he violated restricted airspace set up for the protection of President Biden.
The airplane was identified as a 1973 182P Skylane, N58960. It is registered to 68-year-old Ed Regan of Torrance, California.
CREATE A FREE ACCOUNT
Sign up to keep reading
Create a free account to continue. Already a member? Sign in below.
Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
